Common Medical Abbreviations

A&Ox4

Alert and Oriented to person,

place, time, and situation

AAA

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

AB

Abortion

ABG

Arterial Blood Gas

Abx

Antibiotic

A-Fib

Atrial Fibrillation

AICD

Automated Implantable

cardioverter-defibrillator

AKA

Above the knee leg amputation

AMA

Against medical advice

AMS

Altered Mental Status

ASA

Aspirin

BID

twice daily

BKA

Below the knee leg amputation

BLE

Bilateral lower extremities

BM

Bowel movement

BP

Blood Pressure

BPH

Benign prostatic hypertrophy

BUE

Bilateral Upper Extremities

c/o

complains of

CABG

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

(Bypass Surgery)

CAD

Coronary Artery Disease

cath

catheter

CBC

Complete Blood Count

CHF

Congestive Heart Failure

CHI

Closed Head Injury (as in

Concussion)

CMT

Cervical Motion Tenderness

CNS

Central nervous system

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary

Disease

CP

Chest Pain

CPAP

Continuous Positive Airway

Pressure

CPR

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

CSF

Cerebrospinal Fluid

CT

Computerized Tomography

CTA

Clear to auscultation

CV

Cardiovascular

CVA

Cerebral Vascular Accident or

Costovertebral Angle (depending on

context)

CXR

Chest X-ray

d/c

discharge (as in from a hospital)

DDx

Differential Diagnosis

DI

Diabetes Insipidus

DM

Diabetes Mellitus

DNR

Do not resuscitate

DOE

Dyspnea on exertion (shortness of

breath upon exhaling)

DTR

Deep tendon reflex

58

DVT

Deep vein thrombosis

Dx

Diagnosis

ED

Erectile dysfunction

EHR

Electronic Health Record (Also

known as EMR)

EKG

Electrocardiogram

EMR

Electronic Medical Record (Also

known as EHR)

EMS

Emergency Medical Services

ENT

Ears, Nose, and Throat

EOMI

Extra ocular movements intact

Epi

Epinephrine

ESRD

End stage renal disease

EtOH

Alcohol

f/u

Follow up

FB

Foreign body

FHT

Fetal Heart Tones

FMHx

Family medical history

FROM

Full range of motion

GCS

Glasgow coma scale

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

GPA

Gravida, Para, Abortus (Pregnancy

history)

GSW

Gunshot wound

h/o

history of

HA

Headache

HCT

Hematocrit

HGB

Hemoglobin

HI

Homicidal Ideation

HPI

History of Present Illness

HR

Heart Rate

HTN

Hypertension

Hx

History

I&D

Incision and Drainage

IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

ICE

Ice, compression, elevation

ICP

Intracranial Presure

ICU

Intensive Care Unit

IM

Intramuscular

IV

Intravenous

JVD

Jugular vein distension

L

Left

Lac

Laceration

LFT

Liver Function Test

LLQ

Left Lower Quadrant

LMP

Last menstrual period